The 34th Ward Office will be closed tomorrow, Feb. 12 in observance of President Lincoln's Birthday, and on Monday, Feb. 16 in observance of Presidents' Day.
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Celebrating Black History Month
February is Black History Month, an opportunity to celebrate and learn more about Black history and how this legacy shapes our communities. There are many opportunities to celebrate this month, including a book club at the library and supporting local Black-owned businesses through Chicago Black Restaurant Week (happening through February 22nd).
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Veteran City Stickers
At the Tuesday meeting of the Committee on Budget & Government Operations, I was proud to support an ordinance that would establish a pilot program to streamline the process for veterans to obtain their City sticker with the fee waived. As a veteran and active reservist in the Navy, I understand the barriers that exist for veterans obtaining city services. This is a common-sense pilot that will allow qualified veterans to submit their proof of veteran status online instead of requiring this to happen in-person. I look forward to this pilot program's passage at City Council.
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Video Gambling Terminals
At today's Committee on Finance, the committee approved a resolution calling on the City Clerk to provide the Illinois Gaming Board with a copy of the ordinance allowing video gambling terminals within Chicago. While we still need to work on this framework, the Gaming Board is approximately a year behind in granting licenses, so this is an important step to start this process.
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Green Homes Chicago
Green Homes Chicago provides free home energy upgrades and energy efficiency retrofits to income-eligible homeowners, including new insulation and heat pump heating and cooling systems. The registration period will be open from 9:00am on Tuesday, February 17, 2026 to 4:30pm Friday, February 27, 2026.
To learn more about the eligibility and application requirements, click here.
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Early Voting Starts Downtown tomorrow!
Two Loop voting sites open tomorrow (2/12) at 137 S. State and 69 W. Washington. From 2/12 to 3/8, the sites will have the following hours:
- Weekdays: 9:00am - 6:00pm
- Saturday: 9:00am - 5:00pm
- Sunday: 10:00am - 4:00pm
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Any voter in Chicago can vote at any early voting site. Additional early voting sites will open in all 50 wards starting on March 2nd. To learn more about these additional sites, click here.
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Serve as a Poll Worker for the March 17th, 2026 Primary!
The Chicago Board of Elections is seeking poll workers for the March 17th, 2026 Primary, including bilingual election judges who speak Spanish, Chinese, Hindi, Polish, Korean, and Tagalog. To learn more and apply, please visit the Board of Elections website.
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Central West SBIF Applications Open March 1
The Small Business Improvement Fund (SBIF) opens for applications in March in the Central West TIF district. Apply on the SBIF site by March 30, and register for an informational webinar at 1 p.m. on Wednesday, March 4.
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Know Your Rights Resources
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Share feedback with the Chicago Department of Transportation (CDOT) about Delivery Robots
CDOT has created a new category of 3-1-1 requests allowing neighbors to report the impact of personal delivery robots on safety, mobility, and use of sidewalks and crosswalks alongside pedestrians and local businesses. My office is working alongside CDOT to monitor personal delivery robot operations to ensure timely responses to community concerns.
Please click here to learn more or submit a request.
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Changes to SNAP Benefits Started February 1
Take action now to maintain your benefits!
The federal government passed a new law that makes significant changes to the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), also known as Link in Illinois.
Follow these steps as soon as possible to maintain access to your food and grocery benefits:
- Update your information: Report any changes to your income or household to the Illinois Department of Human Services.
- Review work requirements: Find out if you need to be connected with a job, volunteer opportunity, or education & training program for at least 80 hours per month. If you qualify for an exemption, apply for one.
- Stay informed: Get the latest updates and share this information with family and friends.
Nobody should go hungry because of paperwork, and there is support available. The Greater Chicago Food Depository can help you manage your benefits or sign up for SNAP today.
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Overnight Parking Ban
December 1 - April 1, 3am-7am
The City's winter overnight parking ban is now in effect along 107 miles of main streets across Chicago, in addition to the Snow Route parking ban that applies to additional streets any time there is more than 2 inches of snowfall.
Please be mindful of posted signage to avoid getting ticketed or towed.
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West Loop Historic Plaques Project
The West Loop is steeped in history. In fact, we have 19 historical designations, but only two plaques: Old St. Pat’s- National Register of Historic Places plaque and The Jackson Boulevard Historic District- Chicago Landmark plaque.
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To see the rest of the designations, please visit Connie Fairbanks' website.
If you live in a historic building in The West Loop and have historical information about your building you would like to share, please reach out to Connie to learn the process of installing your very own historic plaque!
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CAPS Meetings
Please join my team at upcoming CAPS meetings with the 1st and 12th Police Districts. CAPS (Chicago Alternative Policing Strategy) meetings are a great opportunity to meet with police, neighbors, and my team about local safety initiatives. To find your beat, click here. I hope you can join us at these meetings!
Next week, there will be two CAPS meetings in the 1st District:
- Beat 132: Wednesday, February 18th at 5pm
- Long Grove House, 2001 S. Michigan
- Beat 131 (Virtual): Thursday, February 12th at 10am
- Please email CAPS.001District@chicagopolice.org to join
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Camera Registration Program
When a crime occurs, Police Officers and Detectives canvass the area looking for evidence to determine what occurred. Video footage can greatly assist in their efforts.
If you have a private security camera that captures the public way and you are interested in assisting in an investigation in the event of a crime in your neighborhood, you can register your camera with the Chicago Police Department.
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By registering your camera, you are simply allowing the Chicago Police Department to contact you in the event of a crime in your area. CPD will not have direct access to your camera system and cannot access camera footage without your consent. This is a free and voluntary program. Learn more on the program website.
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Polk/May Stop Sign Installation
CDOT installed stop signs at Polk and May. This is an important upgrade following constituent advocacy about the need for improved pedestrian safety in the area. This installation is especially critical due to the close proximity of Galileo Elementary and Sheridan Park.
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State/Lake Station Closure
Started January 5th, 2026
On Monday, January 5th, the State/Lake elevated station closed for demolition and the construction of a new, fully accessible station. The new station is expected to be finished in 2029.
Lake St has been reduced to one lane at the site, and State St has been reduced to one lane in each direction between Wacker Dr and Randolph St. The work affects the CTA bus routes listed here.
Trains operating along the Brown, Green, Orange and Pink lines and the Purple Line Express will no longer stop at the State/Lake elevated station for the duration of the construction. Loop trains will continue to operate, and riders can use the adjacent and fully accessible stations at Washington/Wabash and Clark/Lake. The Red Line station at Lake will remain open.
To learn more about construction at the State/Lake station and local impacts, visit the CTA's website.
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Work is underway for the Canal Street Viaduct reconstruction.
Canal Street viaduct was reopened to northbound traffic on the west side lanes between Adams Street and Jackson Boulevard on December 22, 2025. The east side bus lanes will remain closed due to construction work occurring north of Adams Street. Northbound traffic from Van Buren will be set up to allow a right turn only at Jackson.
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Phase III began December 15th
Phase III of the Canal Viaduct Rehabilitation Project started on December 15th. This phase continues the viaduct rehabilitation on Canal above Union Station between Madison and Adams.
Two northbound lanes will remain open and pedestrian access will be maintained on the west sidewalk. For additional information, please visit the CDOT project site.
If you have any questions, please email the project email address at CDOTCanalProjects@gmail.com.
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Lake Street Bascule Bridge Rehabilitation
Closure started on 10/6
The full street and sidewalk closure on the Lake Street Bascule Bridge is in effect and will last until January 2028. During the closures, access to nearby buildings and residences will be maintained for both pedestrians and vehicles.
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Eastbound traffic will be rerouted south on Des Plaines, east on Washington, north on Franklin, and east onto Lake St. Westbound traffic will be rerouted south on Wacker, west on Madison, north on Jefferson, and west onto Lake St. Click here for the full detour map. During this work, CTA Green and Pink lines will operate normally until September 2026. The work on the Lake Street Bascule Bridge is expected to be completed in January 2028.
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Night Work: Rehabilitation of CTA steel structures will occur during normal service outages from 2:00 AM and 4:00 AM. These night shifts (10:00 PM–6:00 AM) will begin Monday night (weather permitting) and continue for approximately two weeks. No impacts to scheduled CTA service are expected.
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West Bridge House: Daytime work continues. Demolition is largely complete, and foundation repairs will begin in the coming weeks.
Adjacent Projects: ComEd is anticipated to provide new power service to the west bridge house in the first half of 2026. Additional updates will follow.
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150 N Riverside Upper Riverwalk Access: Pedestrian access from Lake Street to 150 N Riverside Plaza Upper Riverwalk has been closed since Monday, 1/12/26, and will remain closed until sidewalk restoration is complete, expected later in Summer 2026.
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Halsted Street & Chicago Avenue Bridge Project
The Halsted St / Chicago Ave project is underway. Crews have removed existing street lighting, traffic signals, signage, and bus shelters. Viaduct removal is underway along the north leg of Halsted and the east end of Chicago Ave.
Demolition of the Chicago Ave bridge will continue over the next month. In areas where demolition is complete, crews will begin constructing new bridge piers. Crews will implement measures to minimize disruptions as much as possible, but noise and dust are inherent to the bridge demolition process.
Full closure of the Chicago Ave Bridge began September 29. The current detour map can be found here. The full project is expected to be completed by the end of the year 2026.
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Ashland/I-290 Expressway Viaduct Work
Stage 2 traffic is currently being implemented on Ashland Av from Flournoy St to Jackson St to facilitate the reconstruction of the west side of the Ashland Ave bridge.
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In this stage, traffic configuration will consists of two lanes southbound and one lane northbound on Ashland Ave.
A detour plan for the restricted left turn lane from Ashland Ave to Van Buren St will be implemented to send traffic to WB Jackson Blvd, SB Laflin St, then WB Van Buren St. A detour plan will also be implemented for the restricted left turn lane from Ashland Ave to Congress Parkway to send traffic to EB Harrison St, NB Wood St, then EB Congress Parkway. In addition, that the west side sidewalk of the bridge will be closed, and pedestrians will be detoured to east side sidewalk of the bridge.
Stage 2 is underway to reconstruct the east half of the bridge. During Stage 2, traffic configuration will also consist of two lanes southbound and one lane northbound on Ashland Ave. The project is anticipated to be complete late June 2026.
This week, the contractor will work on a nightly basis to remove the existing beam over the CTA tracks stage 2 limits.
For road construction updates and general travel information please visit IDOT’s Getting Around Illinois website.
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The City of Chicago and Cook County are hiring! View their respective job posting sites below:
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Upcoming Events at the National Hellenic Museum
Greek Language Day - Feb. 14, 3pm
Experience the timeless power and beauty of the Greek language with a lecture, poetry readings, music, and dance at the National Hellenic Museum. Register here.
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Junior Archaeology
February 21, 1:00pm
In this youth workshop, students get to engage hands-on with replica artifacts, examine object features up close, and try their hand at making inferences just like real archaeologists!
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The Trial of Odysseus
March 12, 7:00pm
The National Hellenic Museum Trial Series presents live, unscripted mock trials from Greek
history and myth, exploring questions of power, justice, and responsibility.
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Renowned attorneys argue before esteemed judges and a distinguished jury, while an audience votes to determine guilt or innocence.
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Volunteer with Hope's Table!
The Hope’s Table ministry is designed to serve the needs of Chicagoans who are homeless or hungry and is sponsored by First United Methodist Church at the Chicago Temple.
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Saturday morning services typically include serving hot meals and food to go, distributing clothing, and connecting guests with legal support through DePaul University’s Neighborhood Legal Assistance Program. Grace Episcopal Church partners in many ways, most visibly by providing space at 637 S. Dearborn. To volunteer or donate, please contact their volunteer coordinator.
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Helping Cats Near You
4th Sunday of every month, 4pm - 6pm
Details here.
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Discuss how to help community cats through TNR (Trap-Neuter-Return), what to do with kittens, ongoing colony management, preventing nuisance issues and much more!
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